1 . When Nelson Mandela opened South Africa’s Constitutional Court in 1995, he said it would determine “the future of our democracy”. The first president of the democratic era argued that the court was as important to the new constitution as the parliament and presidency. Judges should be “creative and independent” in ensuring that, _______apartheid (种族隔离), no person was above the law, regardless of their race, power or wealth.

By and large, the judges have done their job. The Constitutional Court has defended citizens _______ by a cold-blooded state, for instance by ordering the government of Thabo Mbeki to provide anti-retroviral drugs to people with HIV. It has challenged abuses of power by Jacob Zuma, whose presidency in 2009-2018 was defined by widespread corruption.

_______ the courts are facing serious threats. Populist politicians who hate the rule of law want to see pliant (容易摆布的) judges appointed who will bend to their will. Those who believe in the _______ principles set out by Mandela, including the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, are not doing enough to safeguard his legacy. The _______of endless fierce attack and cowardly indecisive defence is not a good sign for South African democracy.

Critics accuse judges of overstepping their boundaries and usurping (篡夺) legislation. It is true that the judicial branch has become involved in political disputes. But this reflects the _______ of the other branches of government to do their jobs. The more politicians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) have abused their privileges, and the more miserable their failure to improve the life of ordinary South Africans, the more NGOs and opposition parties ask the courts to hold them to _______. As Dikgang Moseneke, a retired justice, _______ it, “Judges don’t look for cases; rather cases look for judges.”

It is, _______, vital to protect the Constitutional Court as the last line of defence for democracy. Mandela once warned the country “to stand on guard not only against ________ attack on the principles of the constitution, but against stealthy corrosion (侵蚀)”. Both now threaten the courts. South Africa must listen to his words before it is too late.